Tank: Property tax shift helped steer civic electionBack to video

Among the mayoral candidates, only Mayor Charlie Clark opposed the move. Political newcomer Kelley Moore, who had built impressive momentum throughout September, backed the proposal. Incumbent Don Atchison supported the move, but only when the economy is healthy.

Among council candidates, only two who expressed unconditional support for the shift were elected: Troy Davies (Ward 4) and Randy Donauer (Ward 5). Longtime council veteran Pat Lorje, who supported it, was defeated in Ward 2 by newcomer Hilary Gough, who opposed it.

Here’s how the issue unfolded in the campaign:

Oct. 3: Clark holds a news conference to stress his opposition to the proposed change in the property tax ratio and points out his two opponents support it.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Oct. 4: A Mainstreet Research poll taken the day of Clark’s news conference shows Moore with a marginal lead (27 per cent) over Atchison (25 per cent) and Clark (23 per cent). It marked the third straight poll that showed substantial momentum for Moore, who based her campaign on financial accountability. Her support stalled and then dropped.

Oct. 7: Moore holds a news conference to promote her crime platform the day after a Medicine Hat man died in a police standoff. Some saw the event as an attempt to exploit the man’s death for political gain. While not related directly to the tax shift, it marked the first hint of desperation creeping into the Moore campaign. Moore never found a way to talk comfortably about her support for the tax shift.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Oct. 11: Moore turns in a strong performance at The StarPhoenix debate at the Broadway Theatre that seems sure to help boost her momentum. It fails to do so.

Oct. 12: A Mainstreet poll shows a tie between Moore and Atchison at 27 per cent with Clark dropping to 19 per cent.

Oct. 13:Moore posts a bizarre statement on her Facebook page making an unfounded claim that the 2017 property tax increase could top 10 per cent. In the same post, she calls the property tax shift “fictional.” She also holds a news conference to suggest job cuts at city hall warrant consideration to control spending. She later admits the 10 per cent figure was a guess. It appeared to be an effort to regain her credibility as a fiscal crusader, despite her support for the proposed shift. It looked like the sort of desperation one might have expected from the flagging Clark campaign.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Oct. 18: A Mainstreet poll shows a close race between Atchison (30 per cent) and Moore (28 per cent) with Clark still trailing (21 per cent).

Oct. 19: The desperation in Moore’s campaign comes back to haunt her. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Saskatoon and District Labour Council criticize Moore’s suggestion that job cuts at city hall will be considered. On the same day, the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) slams Moore for campaigning with executives from the city’s transit workers’ union. The union, which is still negotiating a contract with the city, endorsed Moore. The NSBA should have been a strong ally of Moore’s for her support of the property tax shift and had earlier blasted Clark for opposing it. Moore waited a day to respond.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Oct. 20: The mayoral candidates appear in the final broadcast forum on CTV. Atchison and Clark target Moore for scaremongering over city debt and the 10 per cent tax hike claim. Moore evades a direct question on job cuts at city hall. Clark points out the inconsistencies in Moore’s campaign and utters the words that will define the final days of the campaign and propel him into the mayor’s chair: “You know what you get with me.”

Oct. 21: A Facebook post by Moore says Atchison and Clark have had their hands in the “public cookie jar” for years. Clark complains the post is libellous and Moore apologizes. It marks the last desperate attempt by Moore to regain the mantle as the defender of financial accountability.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Oct. 23: The final Mainstreet poll shows the race shift into one between Clark (28 per cent) and Atchison (32 per cent). Moore plummets to 20 per cent. With Clark’s hundreds of volunteers to get the vote out, he will triumph three days later.

Whether you call it a tax shift or a reduction in the business tax ratio, Clark’s confident, consistent position on the issue helped pave his path to the mayor’s office. Moore’s rocky response helped derail her promising campaign, while Atchison’s nuanced thinking left him standing still when Clark grabbed the momentum.

Where candidates stood on the issue may not have been as important as how they responded to questions about it.

Share this article in your social network

Trending

Related Stories

This Week in Flyers

Article Comments

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Notice for the Postmedia Network

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.